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Is it worth taking this supplement in order to aid in the burning of fat?
L-Carnitine...is it worth it?
- Thread starter Smokescreen
- Start date
ProtienFiend
New member
you should use ALCAR (acetyl-l-carnitine)... more bioavailability...
is it worth it? thats debatable... like most supps (save ephedrine, creatine...)
is it worth it? thats debatable... like most supps (save ephedrine, creatine...)
Babyfaced Assassin
New member
i'm gonna be trying alcar out as of tonight
i'll let everyone know how things go
i'll let everyone know how things go
Please do.
White Tiger
New member
HERE ARE SOME INTERESTING ABSTRACTS ON L-CARNITINE-L-TARTRATE:
1: Metabolism. 2002 Nov;51(11):1389-91.
Effects of oral L-carnitine supplementation on in vivo long-chain fatty acid oxidation in healthy adults.
Muller DM, Seim H, Kiess W, Loster H, Richter T.
University of Leipzig, Children's Hospital, Germany.
Despite an abundance of literature describing the basic mechanisms of action of L-carnitine metabolism, there remains some uncertainty regarding the effects of oral L-carnitine supplementation on in vivo fatty acid oxidation in normal subjects under normal conditions. It is well known that L-carnitine normalizes the metabolism of long-chain fatty acids in cases of carnitine deficiency. However, it has not yet been shown that L-carnitine influences the metabolism of long-chain fatty acids in subjects without disturbances in fatty acid metabolism. Therefore, we investigated the effects of oral L-carnitine supplementation on in vivo long-chain fatty acid oxidation by measuring 1-[(13)C] palmitic acid oxidation in healthy subjects before and after L-carnitine supplementation (3 x 1 g/d for 10 days). We observed a significant increase in (13)CO(2) exhalation. This is the first investigation to conclusively demonstrate that oral L-carnitine supplementation results in an increase in long-chain fatty acid oxidation in vivo in subjects without L-carnitine deficiency or without prolonged fatty acid metabolism. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
2: J Strength Cond Res. 2003 Aug;17(3):455-62.
The effects of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation on hormonal responses to resistance exercise and recovery.
Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, French DN, Rubin MR, Sharman MJ, Gomez AL, Ratamess NA, Newton RU, Jemiolo B, Craig BW, Hakkinen K.
Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. [email protected]
The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of L-carnitine L-tartrate (LCLT) supplementation using a balanced, cross-over, placebo-controlled research design on the anabolic hormone response (i.e., testosterone [T], insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 [IGFBP-3], and immunofunctional and immunoreactive growth hormone [GHif and GHir]) to acute resistance exercise. Ten healthy, recreationally weight-trained men (mean +/- SD age 23.7 +/- 2.3 years, weight 78.7 +/- 8.5 kg, and height 179.2 +/- 4.6 cm) volunteered and were matched, and after 3 weeks of supplementation (2 g LCLT per day), fasting morning blood samples were obtained on six consecutive days (D1-D6). Subjects performed a squat protocol (5 sets of 15-20 repetitions) on D2. During the squat protocol, blood samples were obtained before exercise and 0, 15, 30, 120, and 180 minutes postexercise. After a 1-week washout period, subjects consumed the other supplement for a 3-week period, and the same experimental protocol was repeated using the exact same procedures. Expected exercise-induced increases in all of the hormones were observed for GHir, GHif, IGFBP-3, and T. Over the recovery period, LCLT reduced the amount of exercise-induced muscle tissue damage, which was assessed via magnetic resonance imaging scans of the thigh. LCLT supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) increased IGFBP-3 concentrations prior to and at 30, 120, and 180 minutes after acute exercise. No other direct effects of LCLT supplementation were observed on the absolute concentrations of the hormones examined, but with more undamaged tissue, a greater number of intact receptors would be available for hormonal interactions. These data support the use of LCLT as a recovery supplement for hypoxic exercise and lend further insights into the hormonal mechanisms that may help to mediate quicker recovery.
3: Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Feb;282(2):E474-82.
L-Carnitine L-tartrate supplementation favorably affects markers of recovery from exercise stress.
Volek JS, Kraemer WJ, Rubin MR, Gomez AL, Ratamess NA, Gaynor P.
Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA. [email protected]
We examined the influence of L-carnitine L-tartrate (LCLT) on markers of purine catabolism, free radical formation, and muscle tissue disruption after squat exercise. With the use of a balanced, crossover design (1 wk washout), 10 resistance-trained men consumed a placebo or LCLT supplement (2 g L-carnitine/day) for 3 wk before obtaining blood samples on six consecutive days (D1 to D6). Blood was also sampled before and after a squat protocol (5 sets, 15-20 repetitions) on D2. Muscle tissue disruption at the midthigh was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before exercise and on D3 and D6. Exercise-induced increases in plasma markers of purine catabolism (hypoxanthine, xanthine oxidase, and serum uric acid) and circulating cytosolic proteins (myoglobin, fatty acid-binding protein, and creatine kinase) were significantly (P < or = 0.05) attenuated by LCLT. Exercise-induced increases in plasma malondialdehyde returned to resting values sooner during LCLT compared with placebo. The amount of muscle disruption from MRI scans during LCLT was 41-45% of the placebo area. These data indicate that LCLT supplementation is effective in assisting recovery from high-repetition squat exercise.
1: Metabolism. 2002 Nov;51(11):1389-91.
Effects of oral L-carnitine supplementation on in vivo long-chain fatty acid oxidation in healthy adults.
Muller DM, Seim H, Kiess W, Loster H, Richter T.
University of Leipzig, Children's Hospital, Germany.
Despite an abundance of literature describing the basic mechanisms of action of L-carnitine metabolism, there remains some uncertainty regarding the effects of oral L-carnitine supplementation on in vivo fatty acid oxidation in normal subjects under normal conditions. It is well known that L-carnitine normalizes the metabolism of long-chain fatty acids in cases of carnitine deficiency. However, it has not yet been shown that L-carnitine influences the metabolism of long-chain fatty acids in subjects without disturbances in fatty acid metabolism. Therefore, we investigated the effects of oral L-carnitine supplementation on in vivo long-chain fatty acid oxidation by measuring 1-[(13)C] palmitic acid oxidation in healthy subjects before and after L-carnitine supplementation (3 x 1 g/d for 10 days). We observed a significant increase in (13)CO(2) exhalation. This is the first investigation to conclusively demonstrate that oral L-carnitine supplementation results in an increase in long-chain fatty acid oxidation in vivo in subjects without L-carnitine deficiency or without prolonged fatty acid metabolism. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
2: J Strength Cond Res. 2003 Aug;17(3):455-62.
The effects of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation on hormonal responses to resistance exercise and recovery.
Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, French DN, Rubin MR, Sharman MJ, Gomez AL, Ratamess NA, Newton RU, Jemiolo B, Craig BW, Hakkinen K.
Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. [email protected]
The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of L-carnitine L-tartrate (LCLT) supplementation using a balanced, cross-over, placebo-controlled research design on the anabolic hormone response (i.e., testosterone [T], insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 [IGFBP-3], and immunofunctional and immunoreactive growth hormone [GHif and GHir]) to acute resistance exercise. Ten healthy, recreationally weight-trained men (mean +/- SD age 23.7 +/- 2.3 years, weight 78.7 +/- 8.5 kg, and height 179.2 +/- 4.6 cm) volunteered and were matched, and after 3 weeks of supplementation (2 g LCLT per day), fasting morning blood samples were obtained on six consecutive days (D1-D6). Subjects performed a squat protocol (5 sets of 15-20 repetitions) on D2. During the squat protocol, blood samples were obtained before exercise and 0, 15, 30, 120, and 180 minutes postexercise. After a 1-week washout period, subjects consumed the other supplement for a 3-week period, and the same experimental protocol was repeated using the exact same procedures. Expected exercise-induced increases in all of the hormones were observed for GHir, GHif, IGFBP-3, and T. Over the recovery period, LCLT reduced the amount of exercise-induced muscle tissue damage, which was assessed via magnetic resonance imaging scans of the thigh. LCLT supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) increased IGFBP-3 concentrations prior to and at 30, 120, and 180 minutes after acute exercise. No other direct effects of LCLT supplementation were observed on the absolute concentrations of the hormones examined, but with more undamaged tissue, a greater number of intact receptors would be available for hormonal interactions. These data support the use of LCLT as a recovery supplement for hypoxic exercise and lend further insights into the hormonal mechanisms that may help to mediate quicker recovery.
3: Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Feb;282(2):E474-82.
L-Carnitine L-tartrate supplementation favorably affects markers of recovery from exercise stress.
Volek JS, Kraemer WJ, Rubin MR, Gomez AL, Ratamess NA, Gaynor P.
Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA. [email protected]
We examined the influence of L-carnitine L-tartrate (LCLT) on markers of purine catabolism, free radical formation, and muscle tissue disruption after squat exercise. With the use of a balanced, crossover design (1 wk washout), 10 resistance-trained men consumed a placebo or LCLT supplement (2 g L-carnitine/day) for 3 wk before obtaining blood samples on six consecutive days (D1 to D6). Blood was also sampled before and after a squat protocol (5 sets, 15-20 repetitions) on D2. Muscle tissue disruption at the midthigh was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before exercise and on D3 and D6. Exercise-induced increases in plasma markers of purine catabolism (hypoxanthine, xanthine oxidase, and serum uric acid) and circulating cytosolic proteins (myoglobin, fatty acid-binding protein, and creatine kinase) were significantly (P < or = 0.05) attenuated by LCLT. Exercise-induced increases in plasma malondialdehyde returned to resting values sooner during LCLT compared with placebo. The amount of muscle disruption from MRI scans during LCLT was 41-45% of the placebo area. These data indicate that LCLT supplementation is effective in assisting recovery from high-repetition squat exercise.
PancakeFiend
New member
i don't think it's worth adding to fat burning supplements. For one thing it costs alot. sure it shuttles fats to mitochondria, but adding more won't necessarily result in burning more fat. I think you're burning fat at a fast enough rate once cAMP levels are high.
White Tiger
New member
PancakeFiend said:
I am more interested in the performance enhancing effects. It looks to increase capillary blood flow and prevent damage to anabolic receptors as a result of resistance training. I think it looks to be a promising in increasing performance and boosting recovery.
So is this stuff as worthless as CLA?
White Tiger
New member
Carth said:
Did any of u read the abstracts? There are new applications for this stuff...and it looks very good!
ProtienFiend
New member
well the first abstract is with people who are deficient in l-car.... you would have to have some sort of condition for this to occur... (or an extremely poor diet)
White Tiger
New member
ProtienFiend said:
Quoted from the first abstract:
"This is the first investigation to conclusively demonstrate that oral L-carnitine supplementation results in an increase in long-chain fatty acid oxidation in vivo in subjects without L-carnitine deficiency or without prolonged fatty acid metabolism. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved."
This shows you do not have to be deficient in L-Carnitine in order for it to help with fatty acid oxidation.
And the other two abstracts show great results in recovery and performance.
ProtienFiend
New member
White Tiger said:
right.. i read it wrong...
CKDisforme
New member
I used to use real pharma Levocarnitine (thats its full name), some pharmacies should still have this - as there are L-carnitine deficient individuals whom suffer serious side effects from not having it in their diets at all. However for the general public most (like the folks here on EF) are not any where near deficient (I believe - and someone can maybe clarify this that red meat contains copius or sufficient amounts).
Anyways I thought at the time (8yrs ago) it would help with my then very new keto-diet I was trying out. The results... not too much I noticed - however like a few others have mentioned it is a supp and maybe it might have some minimal effects on fat oxidation however - trivial I feel at best my $0.02....
Anyways I thought at the time (8yrs ago) it would help with my then very new keto-diet I was trying out. The results... not too much I noticed - however like a few others have mentioned it is a supp and maybe it might have some minimal effects on fat oxidation however - trivial I feel at best my $0.02....
I took ALCAR and it definitely helped in shedding fat----however I didn't take it for that reason---I am a college athlete and I read a lot of articles that said to supplement with it to up your endurance---and I can honestly say that the shit works---The only thing is you need to have around 3-5 grams a day for any effects to take place---After taking it for a couple weeks I noticed that I was shedding fat with no change in my diet---so yeah I would definitely recommend the supplement considering you can get it pretty cheap---
AlphamaleStS
New member
Is ALCAR the brand name? where can i get it? , Can it be used with NO2, & L-glutamine for a cutting cycle??
White Tiger
New member
AlphamaleStS said:
You might want to consider a prodcut called BodyOctane. It has Citrulline Malate which is supposed to enhance stamina and boost NO production better than Arginine and it also contains L-Carnitine-L-Tartrate and Carnosine boosters...it looks interesting and the doses are solid. I may give it a try and let you all know how it goes.
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